Later on in the day, Dr. Buss was having a picnic for all his employees. When they were taking a break, let the women have center stage. That was part of the floor seat program. His daughter, Jeanie, took over the Lakers in March 2017. In January 2008, Buss donated $7.5 million to USC's Department of Chemistry to fund two endowed chairs and an endowed scholarship fund for chemistry graduate students; the two chairs were to be named after his mentors at USC, professors Sidney Benson and David Dows. I couldnt be more thankful for all the parties involved in that trade, because it really changed my career here in the NBA, and gave me a second life. It was a tough year, a tough day. He was the majority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers professional basketball team in the National Basketball Association (NBA), winning 10 league championships that were highlighted by the team's Showtime era during the 1980s. When Jack Kent Cooke sold the Lakers, the Kings, the Forum and a 13,000-acre ranch in Kern County, Jerry Buss met him at an office in Palos Verdes. Thats all I heard. It wasnt just owner-athlete relationship, it was more like a family with his employees. I was just told that he was having this picnic for employees, and how cool that was. Fans could see celebrities sitting along the sidelines, live bands playing music and the famous "Laker Girls" doing their dance routines. Really low key and very friendly. I thought we had a great professional relationship, and over the years I got to know him and be friends with him. . At a young age, Jerry would stand on bread lines to get food for himself and his single mother. I had no idea it was Dr. Buss. So, we were preparing for the offseason in 1996 when we signed Shaq and traded for the rights to draft Kobe. But now I realize, you actually really know your (stuff)! Then he started asking for my opinion on things. He knew wed thrive under that pressure. One vacation in Italy, we needed to get from the hotel to a boat in Venice to get to the train station, then hop on a train to go to a little town for lunch at a certain time, lets say 12:00 p.m.; so hed work his way backwards from 12:00 for how much time each leg would be required so he knew exactly when to leave. Jerry Buss (Gerald Hatten Buss) was born on 27 January, 1933 in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, is a Miscellaneous. Click here to Start FameChaining. But thats how I got to know him and the Buss family. They all mean a lot, but some mean a little bit more than others. Dr. Buss, many nights after the games where hed come down to the locker room after everybody cleared out. At that point, we seemed unbeatable. I remember walking into his bedroom and seeing 20 or 30 pieces of fax paper spread all over his bed as he was pouring over and analyzing every scenario and option. Most owners are coming in, they have security, they go to their box, they get in and they get out. Dont worry about it, kid. Pat and I were really good friends, and he was trying to work his way back into basketball, involved with Chick on the radio. We actually ended up making an offer, and then taking the offer off the table, because it still was not acceptable. And I knew, dont talk about management. He absolutely loved it, because Jesse would know every single stat about every single player. The love of his life was the Lakers and his kids. I was thankful he gave me an opportunity to get involved, and more importantly, get involved with someone like him where I learned a lot. Money has never been a part of my being. Speaking at his memorial, that his family wanted me to speak was also very touching and meaningful to me. Los Angeles, Ducks three-game win streak snapped in overtime loss to Capitals, High school basketball: Southern California and Northern California Regional results and updated pairings, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame overcomes deficit to win Mission League opener, Still in UCLAs corner, Ben Howland stressed importance of getting No. Pat learned his job on the fly. And thats what Dr. Buss wanted, to create a place where it could be magical, almost like Disneyland. Dr. Buss will always be forever in my heart. And little did we know wed be teammates months later extremely serendipitous. I asked him, How could you go up there and do that? He said, I just did it. I said, But youre so good at it! Hes like, I hate it! Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. I never had a relationship like this, and nor did he. The Buss siblings have occasionally butted heads in the past, such as with the hiring of coach Mike DAntoni over Phil Jackson, the fiance of one of the Buss children. In 1985, before we left (L.A. after Game 5), I told the dudes only take one set of clothes. MORE:How to watch Lakers documentary on Hulu. I cant tell you the number of times Id be in his office talking about basketball, life, and also he was always accessibly when I needed him when something important came up. Everybodys been calling, but this is the call Ive been waiting on. That was his vision. Buss said that. He would do math tricks when we were going places all the time. Buss is survived by sons Johnny, Jim, Joey and Jesse and daughters Jeanie Buss and Janie Drexel; eight grandchildren; former wife JoAnn; half-sister Susan Hall of Phoenix; half-brother Micky. Id just moved up to live with him in Playa Vista in 2006, and late one night after a game he was drinking wine. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. Magics mom was a Seventh Day Adventist, and they have similar dietary restrictions as Muslims, and she was aware of my faith, so she would cook for me and take care of me when I was on the road and wed cut through and play in Detroit. His vision and creating an organization where we all felt like a family, and we all felt very important to him. Every day, wed just hang out together between practice sessions. His vision really helped make these moments possible. (My decision to stay) was 100 percent Dr. Buss. And then 25 years later, to be able to celebrate at a different stage in my life with him again (2010). We just started talking about the crazy journey that weve been on. And when I heard from him, not just with the telegram but then sitting down with him in Barcelona and looking at him eye to eye. Lydus Buss{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Lydus Buss", "gender": "Male" }, Jessie Buss{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Jessie Buss", "gender": "Female" }, relationship resumed before 1975 until before 1990, Johnny Buss{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Johnny Buss", "gender": "Male" }, born 1956, age 66 (approx.) So my dad went there and repeatedly met with Cooke, and convinced him with his passion that the Lakers needed somebody to be there, to be present, to take ownership. By the time his tenure as the Lakers' owner ended, Buss had overseen 10 total title runs. After all the experiences Ive had in pro sports, Ive never had a better owner. Right after I was drafted by the Lakers in 1982, Jerry West wanted me to come out and have a physical, and meet everyone including Dr. Buss. He loved being around the guys. After Jerry Buss death, Jim continued as the VP of Basketball Operations while his sister, Jeanie, looked after the business side of things as the team governor and president. Wed talk about business. and his wife, JoAnn, had four children: Johnny, Jimmy, Jeanie. So I said, Oh is that good, and he said, Yeah, we really think hes going to be able to bring us to contender status and try to really win a championship.. Magic was worth every accolade or attention he got, because he carried us. He didnt look at it as, someday this is going to blow up and be this incredibly valued team. Dr. Buss was someone who really cared about other people, and I think that same tradition of loyalty of friendship has filtered down to his children. So he asked me and Pat if wed be co-coaches, and I said Id consider it for a month. Thats the kind of guy you want to partner with. The Buss siblings had a meeting the week after Dr Jerry Buss death, to discuss how the Lakers would work going forward. There was no jealousy at all that he had that kind of relationship and Magic would surround himself with Dr. Buss and captains of industry. And quite frankly, I cant remember a time where he made a bad decision. 5 out of After all of this, not only have I resigned from [the Lakers], Ive resigned from being a member of the Buss family, Johnny says. I cant imagine coming into the league at 18 in a grown mans world. And drafting Magic was huge. He was a very, very, very generous man. Between 2006 and 2011, Id see him when I was coaching, and wed reflect on memories. After a family feud, Jim resigned from the Buss Family Trusts and the Board of directors but is still seemingly a part-owner of the franchise. After failing a field sobriety test, Buss was taken into custody, given a blood test and booked on suspicion of driving while intoxicated with a blood-alcohol level over 0.08. The championship in 1985 stands out because wed just beaten the Celtics, and Dr. Buss was as proud as hes ever been of any team. The Buss family owns . Trying to clear the air. He was a wheeler and dealer. When Earvin announced he was HIV positive, it was a tough day. There was a clause in the contract where the doctor had to give the green light because of my back, to have a contract valid, and Dr. Buss didnt even wait for the doctors. It had just come out, and somehow he got his hands on it, and wanted to know my thoughts on it, especially because he knew I was Italian and I was raised Roman Catholic. One of his favorite comments always used to be, Aint nothin like winning! So thats one of my vivid memories. I remember him calling me into his office, and we sat and we chatted for 10 minutes, and then there was a piece of paper that he had on his desk. Not much is known about Johnnys early life or educational background. He saved Ronnys life, and he didnt have to. All the while, he inspired fondness and loyalty amongst his family, players, employees and fans. Countless times to the Western Conference Finals but no, were not putting those banners up. I think thats what he always wanted, for this to be a family business, where we all work together. The trade was difficult for me, obviously at that moment. Very casual. It was an extension of the brand, a way to reach Los Angeles. In 1978, they moved to the Forum from the Sports Arena, and my dad was a big sports fan, so hed go to Laker games. Theres a picture I have in my office where guys are grabbing his shoulders, throwing champagne on him, Im messing his hair up. Playing for him was one of the best highlights of my life. He completely got something that all of us take for granted: athletes love entertainers, and entertainers love athletes. Success starts at the top. Jerry Buss Family, Net-Worth, Wiki & Bio.Topic covered in the video:who is jerry buss,How jerry buss. I had someone in my mind, me coming from the South, who was going to be really distinguished and have a suit on, and youd be able to know who the owner was right away as soon as you seen him. Its not just another team in the league. It was a father/son environment. If you knew me you would understand Im not about money at all. It all started to gel at that point. Throughout my tenure away from the team, Id send him a note every time they won a championship. I love it. He was very appreciative, very happy. That helped motivate you to want to keep doing that. Magic was like his third son after Jimmy and Johnny before Jesse and Joey were born. It was Jerry West and Jerry Buss who opened the door for me, especially Dr. Buss, because I think Dr. Buss at that time, from what Ive heard, and if you go back and ever look at that press conference from when there was a coaching change, he saved my basketball life, or re-directed it in a way that I never realized that I was going to be where I am today. It really became overwhelming to see just how much he put into seeing every single little detail of that trade. Dr. Buss was open to all of the discussions. Dr. Buss paid out of his own pocket for a million-dollar surgery to save the kids life, not knowing if hed ever play basketball. I remember being bummed with all my friends that we werent going to be able to see Magic Is Back, as it was being marketed at the time. Hes already done the math in his head. We always knew he was the boss, dont get me wrong, and we knew if he wasnt pleased with how we were playing, but he was such a good guy that you really wanted to give that little extra. Jeanie Buss, Magic Johnson, Jerry Buss, and Phil Jackson Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Lakers Center (1975-89) 6X Champion, 2X Finals MVP, 6X MVP, 19X All-Star, Hall of Fame He always treated me very. Some might wonder if his death will bring radical changes to the ownership of the team, but according to his family, that's not very likely. 12/22/2014 5:31 PM PT. It was a way to motivate us to be efficient. And I remember I was working as a scout when my dad called and let me know about us acquiring Pau Gasol. The stake could legally be sold off entirely, but given the familys devotion to the team, the Lakers are sure to stay with them. Everybody that we asked to participate agreed to be interviewed, and everybody gives the experience that they had because the fans know about what took place on the court, Jeanie said to The Athletic. We just clicked. He ran the WNBAs Los Angeles Sparks while the family still owned the team. Read More: Where is Jerry Buss Daughter Jeanie Buss Now? The $24 million he purchased for the Lakers and Kings would be $95.57 million in today's money. Jerry was able to make the purchase with the help of a legal team of 50 lawyers and accountants. My dad had his children, but the Lakers were his baby. The thing he taught me the best is that he maximized his days. [1] When he was nine years old, he moved with his mother to Los Angeles; they moved to Kemmerer, Wyoming, three years later when she remarried. And he really wanted me to listen. He made good observations about the game, and personnel and so forth. Dr. Buss was there with us. The only way for us to change was to do something drastic. Bryant captured two more rings without O'Neal to close out that decade. [2] with Karen Demel After a decade of competitive teams that werent yet contenders, Dr. Buss and Jerry West signed free agent Shaquille ONeal, and traded for teenager Kobe Bryant, in 1996, then eventually brought Phil Jackson in to set up the next run of Lakers championships. Dr. Buss told me how (Stone) came up with the title. It was amazing. And teams like the Spurs were getting guys late in the first round that were contributors. He loved to jump on it. We talked for about an hour and a half, two hours, and I decided to believe in him, and he believed in me. He wasnt born in Los Angeles, but it was his home, and he loved it here. I was a senior in high school, and my dad would explain it to us kids like, Could you imagine to going to every Laker game? Very few. The lying in state was held on Monday, February 27th 2023 from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Fox Funeral Home (1116 N 19th St, Beatrice, NE 68310). "I can remember standing in a [Works Progress Administration] line with a gunny sack, and I remember having to buy chocolate milk instead of white because it was one cent cheaper," Buss told The Boston Globe in 1987. Thats how I try to live. He was waiting on some people to come, so we just sat there, and it was right after retirement, and he talked about how appreciative he was of me being a Laker and the three championships. But he took the time (with me) a couple of times a year. Dont talk about the owner. It was a ritual. He has appeared in the GSN series High Stakes Poker and the NBC late-night series Poker After Dark. His first son did not want to carry on his love for basketball, his love for sports the way he wanted.. She is the one who took over the family business, and her children may do the same someday. (Eventually) I became his eyes and ears about college players. But I hadnt seen him yet. I think Dr. Buss always had a plan in life. My biggest concern was being traded every year. The importance of saying "I love you" during COVID-19, Effective ways of dealing with the grieving process, Solutions to show your sympathy safely during the Covid-19 pandemic. My thoughts and prayers are with the family & friends of Dr. Jerry Buss. He was the first one who recommended Angels and Demons, before it became a really big hit. It was weird timing, because Kobe was during that time also unhappy and there were stories of him potentially getting traded, or being able to move on from L.A., and then looking for a different situation. Wed go out to different musicals and shows and dinners with my dad. It was a long time before the other franchises got wise like that. It was a whirlwind (amidst the sadness), and all of a sudden here we are at the Nokia Theatre, with check in, banners outside where people could write messages, former Lakers and NBA players a beautiful stage and so on. 1 seed in West, Another Trevor Bauer defamation suit is thrown out. And while his relationship with his siblings is strained, he shares with them a reverence for their father. So that was an awkward couple of days. The very first time that I met him was when he had purchased the team from Jack Kent Cooke. Buss also owned other professional sports franchises in Southern California. But they dont know what happened behind the scenes, and thats what we wanted to show, is what goes on after the game and the effect that winning has on people, on a family.. Thats how he was. It was about how thankful he was to me for helping to enhance his brand. And that resonated all the way back to Los Angeles. He didnt want to go fast. He was that dude. Then he won another five championships. I remember thinking it was really cool to have somebody go to the NBA straight from high school, somebody that was only five or six years older than me. In 1979 Jerry purchased Pickfair Mansion in Beverly Hills from the estate of Mary Pickford. Wed played pool until 2 or 3 in the morning he loved to play 8 ball, and he was much better than me. It will feature "exclusive access to the Buss family and probing, revealing interview with players, coach and front office execs.". Kurt Rambis doing his usual mischief, (having fun) with Dr. Buss. Buss was a high-stakes cash game poker player for many years, but later in life was more active in tournament games. I dont remember a whole lot about the podium when Dr. Buss accepted the championship, but I do remember that Kareem stuck a towel in Pat Rileys mouth so he wouldnt say wed win it again next year. We had gone through the playoffs only losing one game, against Philly. The Lakers, Kings and WNBA's Sparks later played their home games at the Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena) starting in 1999. He was like, The contract is good. Id never been in a Porsche before. Never talked down to people. It became a happening. privacy policy | The first time I met him was when we were in training camp in Hawaii, when he came into the gym in his jeans and his Hawaiian shirt, just watching practice. We wanted it so bad. I remember him saying, You know how cool it would be for the Buss family to own the Lakers for 100 years? He originally went into real estate investing in order to provide an income so he could continue teaching. Jerry's 66 percent ownership of the team passed to each of his six children via a trust, equating to 11 percent per child. When he bought the Forum, it was called the Forum. After the championship in 1980, it was like the rocket just took off. But then right away, the Lakers started winning championships, and Showtime was coined, and little did I know that Id get a chance to join them years later. During the Finals in Philly in 2001, we would get cheesesteaks before the games. All those times we were together, I shared with him, I wanted to be more than just a basketball player. Once you dealt with the media, you get on with your life. kids--Joey, now 14, and Jesse, 10--with one of his girlfriends, Karen Demel. You walk into the locker room and you see three Hall of Famers on your side, plus one of the best defenders of all time in Michael Cooper, and a great coach, and you cant help but feel that way. There wasnt a lot of sour grapes between players and Dr. Buss. Obviously, Kobe was able to do that with the help of the franchise. You can be multifaceted. The Lakers are on fire. Dr. Buss used to come down to the locker room after every game, starting in the 1981-82 season. Dr. Buss calls down there, and he says, Coop did you get your thing. I said, What are you talking about? Dr. Buss had given me a brand new Mercedes * with six miles on it for me winning Defensive Player of the Year. [3] He was also the co-owner of a real estate investment company called Mariani-Buss Associates with his long-time business partner Frank Mariani. I guess it took everyone by surprise, but actually it worked out great for him, great for the Lakers, and he went on to produce some championship teams here in Los Angeles. It was incredible. I need to say no more. I thought, this is the way it should be. He was raised by his mother, Jessie, who worked as a waitress. I remember I was just told that he maximized his days Mercedes * with six miles on it me! Security, they go to their box, they have security, they get in and they get out journey... The franchise know your ( stuff ) in pro sports, Ive never had a owner. 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